FORCES’ ADVANTAGE WORRIES MP NGWENYA
PM expected to respond in writing on Monday
MBABANE – The Prime Minister (PM), Russell Dlamini, has been challenged to clarify some issues relating to security forces teams.
These clubs referred to are Young Buffaloes, Royal Leopard and Green Mamba, who campaign in the MTN Premier League.
The challenge was raised by Ntondozi Member of Parliament (MP) Peter Ngwenya yesterday in the august House.
He asked the premier to bring clarity in the matter, where he is expected to respond in writing on Monday.
Like some in the past, Ngwenya raised the contentious issue of security forces teams, saying they have an unfair advantage over the rest of the teams.
“The trio top the log every time I check them and they are using government’s resources in terms of time and cars.
“There are some parastatals that tried to play football, such as the RSSC, but never succeeded.
Miss
“We would miss games because of work, a thing that never happens with these teams,” Ngwenya said.
Notably, some players who play for these teams are still on the waiting lists to be recruited into the security forces, as most are civil servants.
The employment of the players is spelt out in the contracts of players.
“They are winning trophies and where does the money they win go to? They use government’s time, paid by it, and they also win some more money,” the MP further said.
It is worth mentioning that the trio currently occupies the top spots in the MTN Premier League log table, while two of them are Ingwenyama Cup semi-finalists and these are Green Mamba and Buffaloes.
The two forces team will face each other in the semi-finals penned for the Somhlolo National Stadium on Sunday.
Unfairness
The PLE once formed a committee to address the issue of forces teams’ unfairness, but its report is yet to be shared with stakeholders.
Despite that, the PLE Compliance Manual seeks to address the same issue.
As per the manual, member clubs must be registered in terms of the company laws of the country and have a directorship structure in compliance with local and international football bodies’ club licensing requirements.
The teams’ officials, who are not on duty at the stadium, are not expected to be in uniform.
On top of that, the manual makes it an offence for these teams to drive to stadiums using government vehicles. In essence, the manual says government has no team, so the State’s resources should not be used in running the teams.